Chester Williams Hands Over Top Cop Role to Dr. Richard Rosado

After serving for six years and three months as Belize’s Police Commissioner, Chester Williams will officially hand over the reins of the department to Dr. Richard Rosado.  The 51-year-old career police officer has spent the last few weeks transitioning into the role of a government CEO.  Today, he will hang up his police ensemble and transfer his powers to Dr. Richard Rosado.  It was back in early January 2019 that Williams took on the role of commissioner; a time when crime was rampant and the gang warfare had been posing a challenge for security forces.  Following today’s official ceremony, which we will share with you later in this newscast, Williams spoke to the media on his departure.  He opened his remarks by giving thanks to his deceased mother for support given throughout his career.  He also expressed appreciation to past Minister of National Security, Ralph Fonseca and the former Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Said Musa.

Chester Williams, Former Commissioner of Police: “No one believed in me,  they did.  And they gave me the chance for me to have been able to demonstrate my capabilities and put me in the spotlight,  making me a marketable person. And so they did a lot in terms of helping me. Even when I was going to law school when I had no money to pay my rent Ralph Fonseca was there for me and Said Musa and Godfrey Smith they were there for me along with Mike Fienstein, Haisam Diab. Those were the people who supported me when I was at law school and had nothing. And so I want to say thanks to them as well. Had they not done so, I would not have been able to finish law school. So they too contributed tremendously for me. And yes, this is a bittersweet moment. As I said, policing has been my life. I joined the ranks of the policing department in 17, coming straight out of a bakery to a police officer and from then that is all I know.  So it is bitter to the extent that it is what I have been doing all my life  and it is sour because I am leaving and it is sweet for the simple fact that  I now get an opportunity to go somewhere else and see how best I can continue to serve my country. The Ministry of Constitutional, Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs and Transport it’s a ministry with a lot of responsibilities. We all know that traffic is a problem in this country. We saw the amount of fatalities on highways last year and certainly it is the mandate of the government to make sure that they don’t have a repeat of last year. And so moving over with Dr. Zab at that ministry is certainly something I welcome, I look forward to doing what we can to address the  plague that confronts commuters.  I’ve traversed this country from Punta Gorda to Corozal, from Belize City to Benque and on many occasions I see the type of buses on our highways.”

The newly installed Police Commissioner, Dr. Richard Rosado, described today’s handing over as a surreal experience.  He told the media that there will be a reform of the department and that he has spent the last few weeks meeting with his senior command.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police: “It is the desire of all police officers to reach a top. And I believe if I would say no, I would be lying. But all of us join the department to one day head the ship or be the captain of the ship. I know the intense weight of the responsibility and I know that it will require,  it will not be an easy journey.  But with the support of the public and all stakeholders I believe we can do a lot our community much safer. My message to the public is one of commitment and collaboration. I am dedicated to reforming, refocusing and rebuilding the police department. Like I said, I know it will not be an easy journey. Honestly, it has given me the opportunity to sit with my senior command to hear the challenges and concerns and it allowed me to put together my strategic plan. Hence the reason I have termed my strategic plan “Reforming, Refocusing and Rebuilding the Police Department.” We will do some restructuring and addressing critical security challenges like gang violence, illicit trafficking of firearms, transnational crimes, cybercrimes.”

Williams officially takes on the post of Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Constitution and Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs and Transportation on May 1.